A mandrel (pronounced , and also spelled mandril; in
American English also called an arbor) is either an object used to shape machined work; a
tool component that grips or clamps
materials to be machined; or a tool component that can be used to grip other moving tool components.An example of one type of mandrel is a shaped bar of
metal inserted in, or next to, an item to be machined or bent in a certain
pattern.
Exhaust pipes in
automobiles are frequently bent using a mandrel during
manufacture. The mandrel allows the exhaust pipes to be bent into smooth
curves without undesirable creasing, kinking, or collapsing.
Molten glass may be shaped in this way as well. Another example of this type of mandrel is found in
jewelry manufacturing, where
ring and
bracelet mandrels are used to shape metal into a desired size and
shape, using a tiny
hammer to beat the metal against the mandrel. Another type of mandrel is the
clamp that a
lathe uses to hold pieces of
wood, metal or
plastic to be machined as they are turned. In this way,
rods can be threaded,
furniture legs are turned to have beautiful
patterns, and irregularly-shaped objects can be given a cylindrical or
round shape. There are several types of mandrels used with lathes. An expanding mandrel is slightly tapered with a tapered wedge that will expand to hold the item. Other commercial mandrels are very slightly tapered and the hollow object slides down the taper until it 'sticks'. The shop made mandrel shown in the photo is designed to clamp a hollow tube or gear between the two tapered plugs. There is nothing about such a mandrel that can't be made right on the lathe on which it is to be used so it is not uncommon for machinists to make a mandrel to hold a particular item, and then set the mandrel aside hoping to use it again some day. Mandrels of this type are usually set in the lathe on centers and turned with a
lathe dog.
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